Branded Youth Entrepreneurship Conference 2022
August 26 & 27
About Branded
There is no other youth conference where you can get professional photos of your product or headshots, coaching from marketing experts, meet business professionals from across the GTA, hear inspiring speakers, and network with other young professionals.
Since 2012, Branded has given Black, Newcomer and Most-Vulnerable-Person (MVP) youth real tools to build their businesses. Through our model of group consultations, and our annual Pitch Competition, Branded has provided over $100,000 in funding to Youth entrepreneurs across the GTA.
Branded 2022
Branded is back and this year, you’ll get to enjoy that Branded magic in person!
On Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, Branded will be hosting a two-day conference at Artscape Daniels Launchpad. We’re bringing back everything you love about Branded with a few special additions.
Check out the full agenda below and make sure to register for your chance to pitch for up to $5,000 towards your business.
Keynote
Jebril Jalloh
Entrepreneur and Founder of Get Fresh Company
There’s no such thing as an overnight success. It takes all nighters, failed attempts and the art of hustling to get to where you want to be. For Toronto’s Jebril “Fresh” Jalloh, his proudest wins have only come after he finally made it through his toughest obstacles. The Entrepreneur and Founder of Get Fresh Company, had every reason not to pursue his dream of owning a business – single-parent household, rough upbringing, high school dropout – but to achieve the impossible, you have to see it first. Jebril’s vision came to him at the age of 16 while he was hanging out with friends. He proclaimed: I want to own a store called Get Fresh and it will be the freshest store in Toronto. They laughed then, but nothing was funny when in August 2013, he opened the doors of Get Fresh Company (GFC) in a location that Vogue named the second-hippest district in the world -Toronto’s “West Queen West” area.
Consultation Sessions with
Sarah-Jane Gwira
Founder, Squish Social
Slaying Social
Everyone wants to step up their social media game, but how does an entrepreneur who’s already pressed for time make it happen? Join Sarah Jane as she helps break down the best bang-for-your-buck strategies on how to Slay your Social.
Christopher Duff
Founder, Inspired Initiatives
Learn, Pivot, Grow: How to Innovate, Better
There are nine different areas of your business you can innovate that will help you grow. How many are you using? In this workshop, Chris uses the Business Model Canvas to teach you how to create strategies to reach new customers.
Hamza Fasih
Founder, Bellvines Influence
Close with Confidence
Selling, whether to a customer or an investor, is one of the most important skills an entrepreneur needs – but many people hate it. Join Hamza, as he uses his experience from closing hundreds of deals to make you a better salesperson so your business can thrive.
Expert Stations
Dukez
Digital Strategy and Brand Development
A force within the marketing and video production industry for over a decade, Dwayne Holness is the founder and CEO of Corex Creative – a video marketing agency specializing in corporate videos, digital strategy, and brand development.
Dymika Harte
App Design & Development
Dymika Harte is an award winning creative entrepreneur, founder of female-powered design agency UNSGND and co-founder of tech company Clutch App — a marketplace that connects new drivers with local instructors.
Rachel Lambo
Growing Your Beauty Business
Rachel is a marketing virtuoso with 14+ years of experience. She’s also a proud co-founder of Sade Baron, a clean body care brand, and loves consulting women entrepreneurs to help them create their own success. Since its launch in 2016, Sade Baron has joined the shelves of 100+ retailers in Canada, the United States and the UK.
Sepo Achampong
Prioritizing the Entrepreneur
Sepo Achampong is a Program Manager with Bizstart and entrepreneur who’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs think about their businesses more holistically.
Slingshot Law
Legal Guidance for Entrepreneurs
Slingshot provides all the day-to-day legal services your business needs, all in one place.
Conference MC
Karlena Waugh
Founder, The Biz Mixer
By day Karlena is an Event Coordinator for the Event Experience Team at Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE). By night, she is a millennial entrepreneur who is passionate about community building and collaboration in business.
Schedule
Day 1
| 10:00 AM | Registration & Welcome |
| 11:00 AM | Consultation Session 1 |
| 12:15 PM | Lunch N’ Link |
| 1:45 PM | Consultation Session 2 |
| 3:15 PM | Keynote |
| 3:45 PM | Closing Remarks |
Day 2
| 5:00 PM | Doors Open |
| 6:00 PM | Welcoming & Opening Remarks |
| 6:30 PM | Pitch Event |
| 8:00 PM | Winners Announced |
| 8:30 PM | Celebration & Social |
Pitch Competition MC
Femi Lawson
Femi is a Canadian born Nigerian with a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and a Degree in Criminal Justice. For the past 15 years, Femi has been working with arts, culture and entertainment vehicles across Canada. He is the former Creative Director of the Nia Centre For The Arts, the first black arts center in Canada.
Apply to the Branded Pitch Competition
Five finalists will be selected to deliver a five-minute pitch to an expert panel of judges and Branded 2022 attendees. Prizes of $5000, $3000 and $1000 will be awarded to the top 3 finalists.
Applications accepted until August 7th at 9pm
Finalists notified on August 11th
Mandatory finalist prep session at Artscape Daniels Launchpad on August 16th from 6-8pm
Venue
Event Sponsors
Community Partners
Contact Us
Branded 